WHO IS THE DARK LADY? WHAT ARE THE MAJOR THEORIES BEHIND THE IDENTITY OF THE DARK LADY, IF SHE REALLY EXISTED?
Answered by: Matt B
The Dark Lady Many historians believe the Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets truly existed. She is a mysterious dark skinned woman who is a mystery still of today. Historians say that if she really existed, the Dark Lady may have been Mary Fitton, Lucy Morgan, Emilia Lanier, or William Davenant's mother, all women who have some kind of connection to Shakespeare.
The Dark Lady has appeared in twenty four of Shakespeare’s sonnets and remains an enigma. She is thought to be an exotic dark skinned woman. Shakespeare describes her with black eyes and coarse black hair. “Raven-Black” is how Shakespeare describes the Dark Lady’s eyes. It is believed that Shakespeare did not want her to be generic in the sonnets, he wanted something unique. Shakespeare maybe made her up but many facts are pointing to the conclusion that she was real.
Many theories surround the Dark Lady; there are many beliefs on who she is but no one knows for sure. Many scholars believe she was Mary Fitton, Lacy Morgan, Emilia Lanier, or William Davenant’s mother. Mary Fitton became a maid of honor to queen Elizabeth in about 1595. Not much information is known about Lacy Morgan or William Davenant’s mother. Emilia Lanier was the first Englishwoman to assert herself as a professional poet. There are also theories where she did not exist at all. She may have been just an image Shakespeare created in his mind. The Dark Lady is thought to be just an image in Shakespeare’s mind because there is not proven evidence that she existed. It would be less interesting if she was a real person because Shakespeare can go anywhere with the topic if she is just a figment of his imagination.
Perhaps Shakespeare wanted the Dark Lady to be a mystery because he wanted us to wonder who she really was. It makes his sonnets more interesting knowing, the Dark Lady will forever be a mystery.
These are some pictures of who the Dark Lady may be.
Sources Cited Weis, Rene. Shakespeare Unbound Decoding a Hidden Life. 1st. 1. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2007. 170-173. Print.
Bryson, Bill. Shakespeare the World as a Stage. 1st. 1. New York: Bill Bryson, 2007. 141. Print.
Answered by: Matt B
The Dark Lady
Many historians believe the Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets truly existed. She is a mysterious dark skinned woman who is a mystery still of today. Historians say that if she really existed, the Dark Lady may have been Mary Fitton, Lucy Morgan, Emilia Lanier, or William Davenant's mother, all women who have some kind of connection to Shakespeare.
The Dark Lady has appeared in twenty four of Shakespeare’s sonnets and remains an enigma. She is thought to be an exotic dark skinned woman. Shakespeare describes her with black eyes and coarse black hair. “Raven-Black” is how Shakespeare describes the Dark Lady’s eyes. It is believed that Shakespeare did not want her to be generic in the sonnets, he wanted something unique. Shakespeare maybe made her up but many facts are pointing to the conclusion that she was real.
Many theories surround the Dark Lady; there are many beliefs on who she is but no one knows for sure. Many scholars believe she was Mary Fitton, Lacy Morgan, Emilia Lanier, or William Davenant’s mother. Mary Fitton became a maid of honor to queen Elizabeth in about 1595. Not much information is known about Lacy Morgan or William Davenant’s mother. Emilia Lanier was the first Englishwoman to assert herself as a professional poet. There are also theories where she did not exist at all. She may have been just an image Shakespeare created in his mind. The Dark Lady is thought to be just an image in Shakespeare’s mind because there is not proven evidence that she existed. It would be less interesting if she was a real person because Shakespeare can go anywhere with the topic if she is just a figment of his imagination.
Perhaps Shakespeare wanted the Dark Lady to be a mystery because he wanted us to wonder who she really was. It makes his sonnets more interesting knowing, the Dark Lady will forever be a mystery.
These are some pictures of who the Dark Lady may be.
Sources Cited
Weis, Rene. Shakespeare Unbound Decoding a Hidden Life. 1st. 1. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2007. 170-173. Print.
Bryson, Bill. Shakespeare the World as a Stage. 1st. 1. New York: Bill Bryson, 2007. 141. Print.
"Emilia Lanier (the Dark Lady?)." In search of Shakespeare (2003): n. pag. Web. 4 Apr 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/players/player34.html>.
Mabillard, FiAmandarst. "Shakespeare's Sonnets: Q & A." Shakespeare online (2010): n. pag. Web. 4 Apr 2010. <http://www.shakespeare-online.com/>.